Improved latch



l lntrdiatre i@ strut '1 Gallina N Lette/rs Patent N o. 97 ,498, dated December 7, 1569.

IMPRovED LATGH.

The' Schedule referred to in these Lettera Patent and making part of the same.

`others skilled in the art tornake and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Vin which- Figure 1 is a side view of agate, to which our improved latch has been attached.

Figures 2 and 3 areY detail views of -the same. Figure 4 represents a modification of the catch. Figure 5 isl a crosssection of the same, taken througlrthe line a: x", fig. 4.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. g v

Our invention has for its object to furnish a simple,

strong, convenient, and effectivelatch for gates and doors;` and l 1t consists in the latch, constructed as hereinafter more fullydescribed.

A represents the gate, B, therear post, and C, the

vfrontpost, about the construction' of which parts there is nothing new.

D is a latch or bar, which is pivoted to the post C, as 'shown in fig. 3.

The lower edge of vthe forward part of the latch or bar D is notched, to catch upon the catch-bar E,

rigidly attached' to the side of the front vertical bar of the gate A.

. The lower edge of the forward end of 'the bar D is .bevelled 01T, as shown in iig. 3, so that when the gate or door is swung shut, the latch-barD maybe raised by the catch-bar E, and may fasten the gate :by dropping down, by its own weight, upon the'said catchhar E.

Fis a lifter, attached to the spindle G that passes k through the gate.

The lifter F, `extends along the outer side of the catch-bar E, and is kept in place by a keeper, H, at.

tached to the gate, so that by turning the spindle GQ.

the lifter F will be raised, lifting the forward end of the latch-bar D, and allowing the gate to be opened. The upper edge of the forward end ofthe lifter F is rbevelled oii, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, so that it can never be raised above the upper edge of the catch-bar E, and can thus never interfere 'with the propel-,operation of latchbar D.

' To one or both ends of the spindle G may he attached levers,knobs, or other handles I, for convenience in operating the'latch.

The latch-bar .D mayr be secured in place, locking the door or gate, by an ordinary button nr hook, J, pivoted to the post O in such a position that it may beturnedv beneath the lower edge of the rear end of the latch-bar D, so as to prevent it from moving downward, as it must do when its forward end' rises, to unfastenthe gate.

InV the modification shown inA gs. 4 and 5, the catch-bar or plate E has a ange, e', formed upon its lower edge, to serve as a stop tothe lifter F, andthe inner end of the lifter is extended, as shown in"fig.4, to serve asa handle in unlat'ching the gate.

In this case no knobs or levers are required to be attached to the spindle G, which thus becomes simply a pivot. p i

We are aware that a rigid latch, lifter, and keeper have been combined before, and' that a latch of the form above described has been in public use;` but, having thusdescribed our invention,

The combination of a keeper, of the form described, with the rigid latch and lifter, as and for the purpose specified.

- RUDOLPH GESELBR'AOHT.

' FREDERICK FREY. Witnesses:

HENRY MABFIELD, JOHN W. LonGD'oN. 

